OUT OUR FRONT DOOR
  • Adventures
    • Adult Rides
    • Family Rides
    • Youth Program
    • Adaptive Bike Camping
    • Where The Wild Things Grow
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, Values
    • The Team
    • Our Origins
    • FAQ
    • Get Involved >
      • Volunteer
      • Contact Us
      • Your Story - Testimonials
      • Organization Station
    • Photo Journal
  • Blog
  • DONATE
  • Shop

ABOUT US | OUR MISSION....

​​We are a nonprofit that leads bike adventures to immerse and educate in local history and nature.
As a community organization, Out Our Front Door’s mission is to immerse, educate, and preserve the history, culture, trails, and native habitats of the Lower Lake Michigan Basin Area through exploratory adventures. Established in 2015 with the North Loop Ride, we now have many different resources, events, and programs ​we offer the public.

Vision statement

We Believe in Adventure.
​
Through adventure we come to better understand ourselves as well as our world, from our neighbor down to the smallest piece of prairie grass. Through this growth and shared experience, we learn to love with a more open heart and inspire others to do the same.  Appreciation for one’s self and one’s environment flourishes in the atmosphere of adventure. In the challenge. In the self reflection. In the vulnerability. In the completion. In the stories that float from the mouth once the adventure is long gone; to stories that will put the twinkle of inspiration in the eyes of the listeners. 

​Adventures make the story of one’s life. We believe in the unlimited growth potential found in adventure and we will help to inspire others to open their front door and make the stories of their lives. To learn about the beauty of their local area. To realize that adventure doesn’t always mean a trip to a distant place. That adventure lies right outside at any moment, and that moment is always ours to embrace as we see fit.

​Ride a bike for 150 miles and see if you won’t be telling that story for the rest of your life! And then . . .  And then . . .! To learn about the unique structures around you, from wetland plants to skyscrapers, statues to fellow humans! Appreciation deepens as one better understands the miracles inherent all around them. In the wildlife, in the stories of those who came before us, in the creations of human...in the creations of nature.

And Chicago is not just city sprawl surrounded by boring corn fields! It’s not! But you’ll only come to see its magic that relaxes right beneath your nose until you get out the front door! Explore. Get to know your home. Connect with it. Celebrate it. Become an ambassador of it. Help preserve and improve it for this generation and those to come. Finally, be like us, get so darn inspired that you simply have no other option but to share your adventurous spirit with others, thus aiding them to go out and explore as well!

"Unrivaled & Unparalleled Nature..."


One of the most bio-diverse regions in the United States is not in some far-flung place, nor does is it reside in a national park, the rich and bountiful world of nature actually resides right outside Chicago's Front Door.

​The Out Our Front Door organization brings awareness and a unique blend of adventure which explores the region’s natural history, its ecosystems, trail and cultural history, it past geology and glaciation to it’s present day topography all by bike. 
> Explore our Local Trips

Bike Trips & Programs

Adult Bike Camping Trips 
We lead more than 15 guided tours throughout the year we go on bike camping trips to the surrounding State, County, and National parks. We bike, have fun, and along the way we break and talk about the region. With trips for the beginner to the seasoned-pro, we like hanging out and showing people a good time. Hers’s a Full list of our upcoming bike camping trips for this year
​Family Program
The Family Adventure Program are for parents and children. It’s a great way for your family to experience a weekend camping adventure right from your own front door. Kids get to make new friends, explore, and learn. We also make these trips accessible for families by providing weekend family-specific bike rentals, which are best for carrying your kids and camping gear on two wheels through our friends at Four Star Family Cyclery. Families new to riding can practice before the trip with the Chicago Family Group on their afternoon bike rides. Check out some of our Upcoming Family Bike Camping trips to learn more. 

Youth Program
The youth and student program is an environmental education curriculum which connects youth & students to their local ecosystems and history through meaningful and sustained interactions by bike. The program is designed for high school students and youth who will carry the environmental sustainability momentum into the next generation. Currently the program is in partnership with Blackstone Bikes, West Town Bikes, The Recyclery, and Working Bikes.

The curriculum is aligned with the Service Learning requirements for CPS high school students and creates a leadership development pipeline that gives excelling youth opportunities to grow personally and professionally into the conservation and environmental field.

Where the Wild Things Grow 

These are short, easy paced rides (8-15 miles r/t, 10-12 mph) to go do environmental service for 3 hours in native habitats. Welcome to join to grab lunch and even a beer afterwards (if you're of age, of course).

Classic Routes & Maps

​We research and produce these ​​Classic Chicago Bike Camping Routes for people who want to ride and explore the Lower Lake Michigan Area on their own. We are also an organizational voice working to create an official Chicagoland adventure network. Check out Chicago’s Classic Bike Camping Routes 

​​How-To Resources & Area Campgrounds

On the website we have a Map of all the Available Campgrounds in and surrounding Chicago for any local or visitor to explore. We provide a variety of trip-planning resources for locals, visitors, and even international travelers such as our Field Guide to Bike Camping & Classic Routes. On our Your Story Web Page first time riders offer inspiration for beginners. 

Conservation by Bike

​Our  Where The Wild Things Grow Program encourages bicycle community involvement in ecological restoration throughout the Chicagoland trail network system. An alliance network between the Out Our Front Door Organization and environmental organizations to assist organizations, trail groups, and local land stewards to restore and maintain native habitats in the Lower Lake Michigan Basin Area by bike.

​The program and service days include Native Seed Collecting, Invasive Plant Removal, Tree Plantings, Beach Clean-ups,Trail Restoration days, Buckthorn Burns and weekend Field Trips. By biking to work days, we create a supportive ideological environment for nature and conservation organizations.
Our aim is to assist & create native corridors that represent that natural heritage of the landscape for which the trails belong to.  A network of native paths for trail users, and fauna and flora which lead to nature preserves and native openland habitats.

​​Trail Blog & Newsletter

The Trail Blog is great for organizational updates, route news, touring tips, and more. You can receive the updates and news all in one easy place with Our Newsletter. Our Forums provide space to ask questions and get replies from experienced bicycle tourists.  We are on many social-media channels as well.

Building Awareness & The Collective Impact

​The Collective Impact is an organizational framework of groups and individuals who believe in Out Our Front Door. We work to improve a better bicycle and nature community and work in partnership with Habitat 2030,  The Chainlink,  Centennial Volunteers, Trail Groups and many more influential partners. We also have working relationships with Active Transportation, the National Park Service, state parks, and tourism and economic development agencies. We provide technical assistance and input to state and local non-profits and state departments of transportation to coordinate and develop better bike camping and interpretation for the region.

Ride. Learn. Explore.

​We hope you can join us, show your support, stay in touch and explore Chicago’s nature. There are new events and updates being added through out the year and the best way to stay in touch is to Sign up for the Newsletter, like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and or check out the website.

​Stray Wild and Much Love.

What We Do

  • Self-guided & Guided Bicycle tours. Day and weekend adventures
  • Engage locals and visitors to explore and understand the natural, historical, and cultural world around them
  • Provide local information to the public by open source collaboration by the organizations and alliances described below

What We Support

  • Bicycle advocacy and maintenance on the trails we ride on
  • Natural habitats, restoration and conservation groups
  • Preservation, education, and celebration of History
  • Artists, Photographers, Filmmakers & Creatives

How We Do It

We connect and provide a central place for local historical societies, nature organizations, architectural groups, biking organizations, artists, writers, photographers, people, districts, counties, and businesses to create an informed public through active adventures, to lead to greater care, knowledge and appreciation of our outdoor spaces and an active lifestyle.

Impact

Personal growth of each program’s participants specifically in their abilities in overcoming adversity, increasing physical health, and most importantly in developing a deeper natural and cultural connection to the areas and people outside of their home environment. Through, we create more socially conscious, respectful and open-hearted learners and adventurers. 

It’s what awaits outside all our
​front doors. 

> Get involved

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A  Bike Camping + Nature Community ​for Chicago and the Lake Michigan Area
​​Founded in 2015.​ A 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
​www.oofd.org
  • Adventures
    • Adult Rides
    • Family Rides
    • Youth Program
    • Adaptive Bike Camping
    • Where The Wild Things Grow
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, Values
    • The Team
    • Our Origins
    • FAQ
    • Get Involved >
      • Volunteer
      • Contact Us
      • Your Story - Testimonials
      • Organization Station
    • Photo Journal
  • Blog
  • DONATE
  • Shop